Forward Progress

By the end of 2018, Sarasota's expansive municipal bayfront is likely to have a clear roadmap for future redevelopment, thanks to a master plan being developed for the 42-acre tract.

Boston-based urban design firm Sasaki Associates' work on a master plan for The Bay is expected to do more than unify the city's land uses and provide a cohesive framework for development, however.

Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization (SBPO) leaders hope the blueprint will better link the waterfront tract — currently home to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, the Municipal Auditorium, Garden Club and Sarasota Orchestra — to the city's burgeoning downtown. And in the weeks since Sasaki was hired in mid-October, city leaders have expanded the scope of the firm's work to include land containing an adjacent boat launch and Centennial Park, at 1059 N. Tamiami Trail.